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May 30, 2014

When it comes to planning weddings, Walder Frey of Game of Thrones could use some help. When David Bradley (the actor who plays the eldest Frey) appeared at a London Film and Comic Con event, Gareth Shaw decided to offer assistance:

I have a hunch there's a chapter in Wedding Planning for Dummies about how you shouldn't play the "Rains of Castamere" at your reception.

It's pretty much the best possible photo you could take with Walder Frey.

May 28, 2014

In case it's not on your radar, Father's Day is just over two weeks away on Sunday, June 15. Like the Rebels taking on the Death Star, you should plan ahead. Don't wait until the last minute to scramble for a present or boring card, choose something now! CuffLinks.com is a fine place to start your shopping. They have everything from cufflinks (obviously) to socks to tie bars to ties to money clips. You can choose something practical and stylish, and don't worry, they have geeky options. I especially like their Star Wars ties.

Not sure what to get for dad? While you're thinking about it, why not enter a giveaway to win a Darth Vader Gift Pack? The combo would make a wonderful gift for the One Bad Dad in your life. And by bad, I mean cool - not like Darth Vader!

CuffLinks.com has offered up this dark side gift pack and it contains Darth Vader socks, Darth Vader cufflinks, and a Darth Vader tie. This set would make your dad or mom or anyone you choose to give it to fashionably Sithtastic (it's a phrase):

The retail value for this prize is over $200! But you can win it simply by entering below with Rafflecopter - you even have the chance to gain multiple entries. Commenting is mandatory, and the the rest of the steps are optional.

May 27, 2014

Are you ready for some adventure? The answer to that question should always be yes, and you can get a dose of excitement this month just by opening your Loot Cratebox. The theme for this month is Adventure, and the box includes items from Adventure Time, Mine Craft, and Legend of Zelda. I like that this particular combination features practical items (bottle opener and keychain), fun stuff (toys), and a t-shirt - it's a good mix. Behold:

What time is it? IT'S LOOT CRATE TIME!

Friend Zone soundtrack, Minecraft keychain, stickers, tattoos, oh my!

My favorite item from the box: a Jake tin with a Finn toy, huzzah Adventure Time!

Love the quote style design of this Link t-shirt by Zen Monkey Studios - they made it especially for Loot Crate!

What the junk? Let me out of this tin!

Zelda bottle opener and a Minecraft keychain

I was so excited about the Adventure Time tin and toy that the rest of the box's contents didn't really matter to me. As it turns out, I really dig the Link shirt and another bottle opener is always helpful! I admit I haven't fallen into the Minecraft void yet, so I'll probably save that for a friend who likes the game. Overall, this hasn't been the best box I've received as far as fitting things I like, but did I mention how much I love that Adventure Time tin?

Based on the t-shirt and Adventure Time tins alone, the retail value of this particular Loot Crate is already well over the $19.95 it cost to subscribe. Considering trying Loot Crate? Sign up now so you can get June's box! Use my discount code gwcloot to get $3 off. Have fun with all your new toys!

Full disclosure: Loot Crate box was provided free of charge for review purposes. This did not affect my opinions.

May 22, 2014

Sometimes the members of the Avengers act like children. Overgrown, superpowered children. I imagine getting them to do mundane chores is a lot like herding cats. Could you imagine if they all lived in barracks together - or in Tony Stark's mansion - and Nick Fury had to wake them up for duty every single morning?

I wouldn't want that job, but in a sweet comics series by Jenn Menze, we see that Fury has figured out the best way to approach each of the Avengers and Loki in the early hours of the day.

Ahhh! I want to see all these scenes in Avengers 2!
Nick Fury's bunny slippers might be my favorite part... or maybe it's the fact that the little birds in Hawkeye's comic have eye patches, too. I can't decide.

May 20, 2014

I'm a sucker for cute. I know this isn't a surprise for most of you, and neither is the fact that I love to share the precious things I stumble upon. The latest dose of adorable showcases the work of Beck Seashols. I've been following her art for a while on Instagram because she draws wonderful and cartoony versions of characters from Boba Fett to Daenerys Targaryen. Looking at her Etsy shop gives me a serious case of grabby hands.

When I ran into Beck at a one day comic show recently, I couldn't resist picking up a few things including a pack from her new stationery line. The sheets of paper feature delightful illustrations that will brighten your day and bring a smile to the face of the recipient. The paper is 5.25 x 8 inches, and you can choose from six different colors in either lined or unlined styles. So many options! See:

And she doesn't just have Star Wars designs; check out this Wonder Woman riding Rainbow Dash:

It's 100% awesome.

I can't wait to send out notes on my Chewie and Leia stationery. Shop for stationery, stickers, and more over at Beckadoodles on Etsy!

May 19, 2014

"Mockingbird" caught me by surprise. Given the title, I was expecting the episode to focus on Littlefinger. He may have got the most exciting moment of the hour, but the rest of the episode was intense with emotion and character development. Well-crafted is the best way to describe it.

Thoughts on the episode and a list of my favorite quotes after the image.

“Why are you sorry? Because you’re an evil bastard with no conscience and no heart? That’s what I liked about you in the first place.” - Tyrion Lannister

Random thoughts:
- Where to start? Mockingbird may be the most emotional episode of Game of Thrones and probably my favorite of the season so far. I teared up at so many characters... Bronn, Oberyn, Tyrion, Sansa, Hot Pie, the Hound. It wasn't all heavy emotions either. Some of them came colored with a bit of hope. Goodness knows that's not something we often get from Game of Thrones.

- If memory serves, the story Oberyn told Tyrion matched the books almost word for word. Pascal delivered it perfectly and by the time he said he would fight for Tyrion, I nearly stood and cheered.

- At first, I wanted to be upset with Bronn. However, Tyrion captures it when he said he liked Bronn because he wasn't trying to pretend he was a better man. Bronn has simple desires and if he can have them fulfilled without Tyrion, well, I don't blame him. Their last handshake and Tyrion teasing about the song they'd write about him defeating the Mountain... sniffle.

- Was anyone else surprised that the Mountain seemed to arrive in King's Landing in no time at all? I'm not sure how much time passed since the last episode, but I didn't get the impression it was very long.

- When I saw the promo image for the episode featuring Sansa in the snow looking happy I didn't get it, but as soon as the scene started, I said out loud, "Ohhh, it reminds her of Winterfell." Duh. I thought it was beautiful that she rebuilt her home from memory. It's weird to remember that this is world where she wouldn't have a picture of Winterfell.

- Littlefinger. His time in the episode can be summarized thusly: GROSS and YAY. I was surprised to hear them change the line from "only Cat" to "your sister."

- I clapped when I saw Hot Pie. While he was amusing as he talked about how to make the ideal kidney pie, he also had a touching moment. His second direwolf bread looks much better than his first attempt. Also, still completely adoring the Brienne and Podrick team-up.

- While I respect the fact that Arya is a survivor and a badass, she's also scaring me. How many kills is that now? It's weird to see it unfold on the screen and weirder that I know I'm still rooting for. She's headed down a sketchy path.

- Oh wow, the wounded look on the Hound's face as he told the story about his brother burning him. I just wanted to hug him ala Good Will Hunting.

May 16, 2014

Lucasfilm does a lot to stay connected with Star Wars fans, and one way in which they do a great job is by encouraging costuming. Groups like the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion are supported by Lucasfilm, and they even occasionally go out of their way to compliment cosplayers. For example, a Star Wars Rebels group made costumes and appeared at WonderCon this year - and no, the show hasn't even aired yet. They're awesome:

Yes, I stopped them in the food court while they were trying to get breakfast. I was excited. Sal Perales (Kanan) and his family ran into Dave Filoni at the convention and they were pulled on stage during the Star Wars Rebels panel so everyone could admire their effort. What other franchises do that with their fans?

Filoni also did a cool thing over at the official StarWars.com blog and shared costuming guides for Hera Syndulla and Sabine Wren. His extensive notes would be extremely helpful in building either of these costumes, and I plan to use the Sabine guide. An example:

May 15, 2014

Conventions are one big pile of nerd overstimulation. While it does wear me down sometimes, it's mostly wonderful. You can get autographs, see cosplay, attend panels, flail over the cool items vendors sell, meet new friends - you get the picture. I often come home from conventions with dozens (if not hundreds) of photos, piles of business cards for artists and vendors, and recordings of panels. I sort through it all eventually, but what if I had a cool, convention geared scrapbook to store it all? That would be neat. And guess what? Such a product exists! Behold, the Con*Quest Adventure Journal:

Isn't it pretty? The canvas, high quality journal comes filled with pages for you to keep memories of all the fun you have at conventions. Do you collect autographs? There's a page for that. Want to write down important quotes from a panel? Yep, there's a section for that. You can have artists sketch in the book, and you can store all the business cards you nab.

The binder comes with a Sharpie and a holder for it (love that litte touch), sleeve protectors - perfect for keeping your photo-op pics in good shape, business card holders, and a nice plastic pocket with a zipper - ideal for artwork and postcard-sized flyers. The designs of the printed pages for autographs or cosplay notes have bright and fun designs, and I'm simply floored by the attention to detail throughout the journal. Just look:

It's not pictured, but there are even a couple of pages to make notes about the city the convention is in. You can keep track of the best and worst places you ate and cool stuff to check out outside the convention center. So thoughtful!

The only part of this journal I'm on the fence about is the size. It's tricky because it needs to be big in order to be a three ring binder, and you need all the space to collect your autographs and loot. I totally understand that. However, I don't know if it would fit in my normal convention bag. My guess is they've considered that and hence the awesome tote bag you can get to go with the journal. It's the perfect size and has a long enough strap that you can wear it across your body comfortably (I tested it!). Maybe they'll eventually offer smaller sizes.

Intrigued? You can buy a Con*Quest Adventure Journal of your own at Etsyfor $40. It comes with a free tote bag.

Note: The Con*Quest Adventure Journal was provided for review purposes. This did not affect my opinion of the product or my review.

May 14, 2014

Ah, Universal's Islands of Adventure. Home of Wizarding World, Jurassic Park, Marvel Super Hero Island, and some really lame t-shirt choices for females. I noticed the disparity on my first visit to the park two years ago. For shirts made for boys and men, the designs prominently featured symbols like Captain America's shield, graphics of various heroes, or the X-Men logo. If there was a shirt with text, it said something along the lines of "Be a Hero." There were no shirts about wanting to date Storm or Spider-Woman or shirts featuring She-Hulk that said, "My girlfriend has super strength." Nope.

But when it came to t-shirts for girls and women, there were few designs - in fact, I can only remember seeing two - like there were for men. I wanted a women's shirt featuring Cap's shield, and I couldn't find it. I wanted a shirt with some of the awesome female heroes in Marvel's universe, and I did spot a t-shirt similar to this:

But, otherwise? Ninety-five percent of the shirts for women and girls were some variation of "My boyfriend is a superhero" or "I only date superheroes."

Now, are those designs horrible? Not necessarily. What makes them icky is that they - they being Mighty Fine specifically and manufacturers at large - don't make similar shirts for boys that say "I only date superheroes" or "My girlfriend is a superhero." Likewise, they don't make "be a heroine" shirts for girls and Islands of Adventure doesn't stock many of the designs on men's tees in women's cuts. If I wanted to buy a Captain America shirt that was made to fit me on my visit to Islands of Adventure, I would have to picked the option that says "My boyfriend is a superhero." I have a crush on Captain America, I admit it - but I want more. I didn't have any options that allowed me to dress like Cap or embody the hero. Only options that said I had feelings for him. This t-shirt doesn't display the message I want.

And what message are these t-shirts sending? They're telling boys, hey, you're awesome - you can aspire to be the hero or dress like the hero. They're telling girls, hey, you need a hero. You should date a superhero and admire his abs and abilities. See the difference? Again, if they spread out the designs and offered spins for girls and boys, there wouldn't be so much of an issue. But they don't. For example, look at two designs released by Mighty Fine at the same time last year:

What the...??

I made a repeat visit to Islands of Adventure a few months ago, and these are some examples of t-shirts for girls and women that I spotted in shops at Marvel's Super Hero Island.

That wasn't all of them and again, 95% of the designs on t-shirts made for girls and women were in this vein. I mostly walked around the store making annoyed sounds every time I saw a different design. I just want more options for ladies and for dudes. Why can't it be equal? Come on, Islands of Adventure. Work with Mighty Fine and step up your game.

Star Wars is everywhere. Like the Force, it surrounds us. The saga is embedded into our culture, and I come across Star Wars references in the weirdest places. For those who doubt, I had two such experiences last weekend.

On Saturday, I went to the Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. It's the sixth largest historic home in the country, and construction was finished in 1915. It was built for the Seiberling family - the co-founders of Goodyear. They had a few dollars. The estate is grand in every sense of the word. At 64,500 square feet, the manor is sprawling. The grounds are just as big and impressive, and much of the land and home are preserved. You can't touch any of the furniture or decorations because many of them are original and authentic, or they've been restored. It was a gorgeous place, and I felt very Lady Mary as I walked through the home on a self-guided tour.

Weirdly enough, even in this historic home, there were Star Wars connections. Plural. They had an exhibit set up in the basement about old press camera flashes. Alongside examples of these cameras, there was a photo of Luke Skywalker's lightsaber and a note explaining that pieces of the hilt were made from the battery packs. Of course, they spelled lightsaber thusly: "light-saber" and called Lucasfilm "LucasFilms," but it was a still a happy surprise.

And then I exited and happened to look up. In the bottom left corner of a window, there was a Darth Vader toy:

What?! I wanted to ask an employee about it - there has to be a story - but I didn't want to risk someone getting grumpy and removing it. I hope to see Darth Vader sitting there the next time I return.

On Sunday, I drove to Columbus to meet my mom and sister for a feast at Schmidt's. They offer delicious sausages, German potato salad, and heavenly mac 'n cheese. They also try to teach you some German while you're using the facilities, and they use famous lines from movies. As I washed my hands in the bathroom, I suddenly heard "May the Force be with you" followed by the German translation, "Möge die Macht mit Dir sein!"

May 13, 2014

Putting together a solid mash-up is an art. You can't just throw any two franchises together, add a funny tagline, and make it work. Actual thought should be put into it - shocking, I know. Artist Karen Hallion has a knack for blending elements from various characters, stories, and places just right, and she's basically nailed it perfectly with her latest creation: Princess Leia as the tightrope girl from the Haunted Mansion attraction. I flailed when I saw this art:

Titled "Leia's Corruptible Mortal State," it captures the elements of the painting in the Haunted Mansion elevator to a tee:

If, like me, you need to own the Star Wars meets Disney parks art right now immediately if not sooner, Hallion's got it available as prints, a tote bag, a coffee mug, and more in her Society 6 store. She's working on getting the design onto a t-shirt.

May 12, 2014

"The Laws of Gods and Men" ripped up my heart. Tyrion headed to trial, and we spend most of the episode watching it unravel. Though Game of Thrones often evokes feelings of sadness, last night's episode hit hard.

Spoilers after the picture.

Favorite quotes
“It is a big and beautiful world. Most of us live and die in the same corner where we were born and never get to see any of it. I don’t want to be most of us.” - Oberyn Martell

“I’m guilty of a far more monstrous crime. I am guilty of being a dwarf." - Tyrion Lannister

"Across the narrow sea, your books are filled with words like 'usurper' and 'madman' and 'blood right.' Here our books are filled with numbers. We prefer the stories they tell.” - Tycho Nestoris

"I did not kill Joffrey, but I wish that I had. Watching your vicious bastard die gave me more relief than a thousand lying whores! I wish I was the monster you think I am. I wish I had enough poison for the whole pack of you. I would gladly give my life to watch you all swallow it!" - Tyrion Lannister

"As long as they can hurt our prince with impunity, the word Ironborn means nothing!" - Yara Greyjoy

"A dragon hasn't won a war in 300 years. Armies win them all the time." - Tywin LannisterRandom thoughts
- Prince Martell has quickly become one of my favorite characters. I love his humor but mostly, I adore Pedro Pascal's performance.

- I miss the Littlefinger and Varys conversations from the first season, but Oberyn speaking with Varys was a fine substitute. It was a reminder that Varys' end game is anybody's guess and also showed Oberyn's more irreverent side. Actually, that's the side of his personality we see the most. They're good verbal sparring partners.

- You can read about how much Dany's dragons are growing and becoming a problem, but it's different to see it in action. I have no idea how she's going to manage to control them and keep her children from turning on people.

- I liked seeing Dany ruling her subjects. She shows compassion when necessary, but that may come back to bite her.

- One more note on Dany: word of her accomplishments is spreading. If they're speaking of her during a Small Council meeting, you know they're worried. Is it time for her to arrive in Westeros yet?

- As much as I don't care for Theon - and I really, really don't - it was a punch in the gut to watch Yara (I still think of her as Asha) leave him behind and say he's dead. After all she went through to get him back, he was just too broken. Seems like it seals his fate.

- Hey, Mark Gatiss. And hey, addition of Braavos to the opening credits. The best part about Stannis and Davos' trip to the Iron Bank was Davos passioned plea. Right or wrong, he believes in Stannis. His loyalty after what he's seen Stannis do (namely, listening to Melisandre) is nothing short of astounding.

- My heart broke for Tyrion. His trial deserved as much time as they spent on it, but I also wonder if the extended focus is a way to slow down pacing and give GRRM more time to catch up. Hmm. Whatever the reasoning, the trial was riveting. Peter Dinklage consistently delivers tremendous performances, but this may be his best of the series yet. His confession. My gods. I wanted to punch everyone who stood against him and hug Jaime for trying. Trial by combat is definitely his move, but it's sad that he was forced into using that card again.

May 9, 2014

You never know what you'll find on Etsy when you're searching for Star Wars goodies. Sometimes it's household decor, sometimes it's kitschy jewelry, and sometimes you come across wax seal stamps featuring Star Wars symbols and you squee at your desk. I admit I don't send as many letters as I intend to, but I love the look and feel of wax seals. They make any note you write seem more official and important. I could just be sending a postcard with a silly quote to a friend, but if I put it in an envelope and seal it with wax, it magically transforms into a serious document.

Anyway. Etsy seller Back to Zero has the following stamps available: the Jedi symbol, the Rebel Alliance symbol, Darth Vader, R2-D2, stormtrooper, the Galactic Senate symbol, and the Imperial crest (which they're calling the Galactic Republic symbol, but we'll give them a pass). They look detailed and oh so pretty:

Shop for Star Wars wax seal stamps at Back to Zero. You can choose the color of the handle and whether you want to bundle the wax. And yes, you'll find other nerdy designs like a Batman wax seal stamp in the listings. Keep in mind that turnaround time is about four weeks; plan accordingly if you want to use these for invitations for an event.

May 8, 2014

Whether you're wearing a costume to a convention for the first time or the tenth time, things can go wrong. Wardrobe malfunctions are a common cosplay problem, but if you're lucky, you can repair them on the go at the convention without having to trek back to the hotel and taking the costume off. Safety pins, super glue, or Q-tips for quick makeup fixes can be life savers while cosplaying, and if there's not a Captain Patch-It wandering around to save the day, you can carry some basics with you without having to drag a giant bag around. You can fit a a lot of essentials inside an empty pill bottle, and it only takes about 15 minutes to pull it together.

Supplies for a DIY Cosplay Repair Kit:
Empty pill bottle, washed and dried - if you don't have any, ask a friend or relative. Lots of people save them. You can also buy them from eBay if necessary (they would make great gifts for cosplay pals - the repair kits that is, not the empty bottles).

Any small items you can use for quick and dirty repairs. I recommend anything from the below list that you can fit in the bottle:
- Paper clips
- Safety pins
- Buttons
- Q-tip (cut in half)
- Rubberband or ponytail holder
- Baby binder clip
- A strip of sticky back Velcro
- An alcohol swab and mascara wand (good for makeup fixes)
- Mini tubes of Krazy glue
- Glue dots
- Needle (cover the tip with a dot of clay or foam if possible) and thread
- Bobby pins
- X-acto blade (if you can cover the edge)
- Straight pins (again, cover the tip if you can)

Your desk is a wonderful place to raid for supplies.

Remember, this kit will have items for temporary fixes only. Call it your MacGyver stash. It's mean to keep you out and about in your costume, ready for photoshoots and adoration. You can handle permanent fixes from the comforts of your hotel room or at home.

When you've gathered all the items you'd like to include in your cosplay repair kit, the next step is to see what fits. You want to be able to turn the bottle over or fish items out, so don't stuff it so full that the items don't move. If you have anything like sticky back Velcro, roll up a few inches of it and put it in the bottom of the bottle. Add in other items around it. You'll be surprised at what you can get into a standard sized pill bottle:

When you're done, you have a tiny and portable emergency cosplay kit that can fit into a small bag or a big pocket. You can safety pin a ripped seam together, glue or velcro an accessory or prop back into place, take care of a makeup mess up, or secure a wig or piece of clothing. The list goes on. If you want to take it to the next step, you can create a fun label and paint the cap.